Improvement in running-gears for vehicles



JAMES L, census.

improvement in Running Gears for Vehicles@k N0. 116,160. l Patentedlune20,1871.

.Munn e meeuwen- Cd/25 e @gw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.`

JAMES L. CORBU'S, OF QUINOY, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF WILLIAM H. COLE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPRvEMENT IN RUNNING-GEARS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,160, dated June 20, 1871.

To all lwhom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. GORBUs, of Quincy, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan, have invented. a new and useful Improvement in Running- Gear for Four Wheeled Vehicles; and I do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon and. being a part of this specification, in which- Figure lis a perspectiveview of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a detached view of my double clip and spring, by means of which the reach is secured to the circle. Fig. 3 is a representation of the end of the circle and draft-clip. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the spring-circle. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan of the double clip and spring with a section of the reach and circle.

Like letters refer to like partsin each figure.

The nature of this invention relates to an improvement in the construction of runninggears for four-wheeled vehicles, by means of which a greater liexibility is obtained and a lesser liability of getting out, of repair; and it consists in the peculiar construction of a box-clip on the front circle-iron, in which the reach is. journaled, and in connection therewith the employment of a leaf-spring underneath the circle-iron for holding the clip in close contact with the latter for the prevention of rattling, in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the elastic perches which replace the usual spiin g-bars; and in the general arrangement of its various parts, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

ln the drawing, -A A represent the front and rear axles, respectively, of a vehicle. B is a reach, wholly or in part metal, rigidly secured to the rear axle, rear circle-iron, and braces, by suitable clips, and to the center of the front axle by a ball-and-socket joint, a. C is the front circle-iron, the ends of which are turned up and formed or swaged into draft-clips b, and is secured to the under side of the axle by the usual stirrup-clips. D is a box-clip, which straddles the front circle-iron, to which it is loosely secured in the following manner: At the four corners of clip are pendent studs c, provided with nuts d, threaded thereon. The under side of the clip-body is transversely recessed to receive the circle-irons. Dl is a plate perforated at the corners to slip onthe studs below the circle-iron, and is supported by the nuts d. From the side edges of the plate D' project the half-leaf springs e, which bear, at their ends, against the under side of the circleiron, so that the clip-body is held down in oontact with the circle-iron with sufficient pressure or force to prevent rattling, but not to i prevent the parts from sliding in easy contact with each other. rIlhe upper part of the clip has a longitudinal opening, f, through it, in which the reach is journaled.

The effect of the above-described. arrangement of the parts is to permit the rear axle to have an axial rotation as well as a radial movement at its point of connection tothe front axle, which thus allows the front and rear wheels to adjust themselves to inequalities in the road independently ofeach other, thereby preventing all torsional stra-in upon the reach and its connections.

The plate D and springswe are preferably forged from a single piece of steel, but may be made separately therefrom, if preferred.

E are perches, clipped to the arms of the axles, and support the ends of the semi-elliptic springs F, 'hung thereto by proper hangers.

In liefof the usual spring-bar for supporting the body of the carriage, I employ an elastic perch, Gsecured to the spring, and a similar one attached to a iifth-Wheel plate, pivoted to theforward spring, as shown in Fig. 4;

these springperchesGincrease the elasticity of the movement and relieve the springs from the eects of sudden shocks.

I am well aware that elastic perches have been employed, but only where they rested or were secured to unyielding bases.

What Idclaim as myginvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. rIhe box-clip D, spring-plate D', and nuts d, arranged and operating, with relation to the reach B and circle-iron O, as and for the pur pose herein shown and specified.

2. The elastic perches G, when interposed between the body of a vehicle and its springs j F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES L. CORBUS. Witnesses:

' FREDERICK EBEETs,

MYEON H. CHURCH. 

